Energy Medicine for Weight Loss: How Energy Shifts Can Effect Your Body

Weight loss is much more complex than calories in vs out. Chronic stress may be altering our metabolism and storage hormones, while traumas and beliefs influence our behaviors. Energy medicine can influence both of these things and more, helping to release stuck weight along with stuck energy.

How does energy medicine work?

Energy medicine has been researched and practiced for decades. Dr. Richard Gerber, in his classic book Vibrational Medicine, describes how subtle energies organize the body’s physiology, and how working with those energies can influence health and healing.¹ The overall premise of energy medicine is that when our energy flows freely we have more vital energy and health, but stress, fatigue, or illness may arise when our energy is blocked or depleted.

All of our trauma, significant stress, and current/past beliefs about identity, worth and safety are stored in the body and energetic field. As Bessel van der Kolk describes in The Body Keeps the Score, traumatic experiences don’t just live as memories, they imprint themselves on the nervous system, the stress-response circuits, and even the immune and hormonal systems.² This means the body literally ‘remembers’ what the conscious mind may try to forget. These imprints can shape posture, breath patterns, and emotional triggers long after the initial event.

One of the ways trauma and stressful beliefs or environments exert changes is through epigenetics. Rather than changes to the DNA itself, epigenetics is the effect of the environment on the genes. This is often done through methylation (adding a methyl group) to turn the genes on or off. For example, one study showed that childhood trauma was associated with DNA methylation in stress-related genes (BDNF, NR3C1, SLC6A4, MAOA, MAOB) as well as depression in adulthood.³ These epigenetic or environmental effects persist for generations. Holocaust survivors’ grandchildren (two generations later) show altered cortisol and methylation patterns.⁴ This means that generational stresses can impact how the nervous system, immune system, and hormonal systems function.

Another way that trauma and stress can exert change is through changes in the energy. Physics shows us that matter (e.g. the body) and energy are two forms of the same thing. Einstein’s equation (E=mc²) explains that matter is simply energy condensed into form. Therefore, we are energy. So, if trauma can imprint itself on the body, it can also imprint itself on the body’s energy field, since the two are inseparably linked. In The Biology of Belief, Bruce Lipton explains that thoughts, emotions, and perceptions also have epigenetic effects.⁵ He proposes that by changing our beliefs, we can alter cellular behavior and even gene expression.

The heart and brain have been shown to generate measurable electromagnetic fields, which are detectable outside of the body. Research on heart-brain coherence shows that emotional and physiological states change those fields in consistent ways. Emotional treatments, like therapy, and energy medicine practices (Reiki, biofield therapies, HeartMath coherence training, sound, guided imagery) also both reliably change autonomic and endocrine markers (HRV, cortisol, inflammatory markers) that affect gene expression and healing pathways.⁶

A sampling of this research includes:

• A systematic review found that Reiki consistently showed greater benefit than placebo on symptoms such as depression, anxiety and stress⁷
• In a randomized, single-blind crossover trial of healthcare professionals with burnout, Reiki significantly improved heart rate variability (a marker of parasympathetic activity) and altered other physiological stress markers⁸
• In cardiac patients, a randomized trial found Reiki (vs sham and no-treatment) reduced cortisol levels and anxiety⁹
• Music (another vibrational modalilty) was found to significantly reduce PTSD symptoms¹⁰
• Intensive meditation (8 hours) resulted in 61 differentially methylated sites in genes associated with immune function, ageing, inflammation and more, while the control group doing leisure activities in the same setting did not¹¹
• Mind-body practices like meditation, yoga, Tai Chi were shown to alter epigenetic expression related to inflammation, mitochondrial function, insulin signaling and cellular stress response¹²

These energetic practices show beneficial effects on stress, anxiety, and mood through physiological shifts that influence gene expression:¹³

intervention → nervous/immune/endocrine regulation → epigenetic molecular change

For most of my life, I did not talk about my energy healing practice and focused on helping friends. I am well aware of the stigma it contains in the scientific community. However, for many of us who have been awakened to this awareness, it expands the possibilities for positive benefits with minimal (if any?) harm. I do not mean we should embrace everything without critical thinking. Please always carefully think of the potential negative consequences of action. But one of the most beautiful things about energy medicine is that if you don’t believe in it, it becomes only energy without a physical substance for negative effects (particularly good for sensitive populations!).¹⁴ This means that it offers potential benefits without much drawback besides the time and expense.

How does someone “sense” energy?

Most of us come to energy medicine after some sort of health crisis or awakening. For me, it was a healing in my 20s. It is likely that our subconscious limits our awareness of energy as part of its rigorous housekeeping that keeps us functioning. Because there is no way to take in all the data we are exposed to everyday, our subconscious simplifies using deletions (removing information it deems irrelevant), distortions (twisting data to fit in the existing framework) and generalizations (extrapolating specific information to fit into a larger framework).¹⁵ These simplifications help you process and move through the world, keeping you emotionally regulated and protected. However, they also limit the range of sensations, ideas, and subtle signals you’re willing or able to perceive. Because these protective programs run largely below conscious awareness and are created at an early age, you may literally ignore internal cues or non-ordinary experiences because they don’t fit with your existing narrative of the world.

When we are “awakened” our awareness expands, turning down these filters and increasing the brain/body’s capacity to tolerate novelty and subtlety. Once someone has experienced a direct positive effect, the subconscious can expand to include this awareness and people start to notice sensations they previously ignored.¹⁶

Energy medicine is about clearing blockages and restoring balance to the energetic field, which includes the energy of our physical body, as well as identity patterns, ancestral or timeline wounds, experiences, and the energetic blueprint we were born with. This can be done in a variety of systems (chakras, meridians, biofield, and more), as well as methods.¹⁷ Vibration (using frequency and resonance) is the most common way practitioners move energy. This includes practices like Reiki, crystals, and sound healing.¹⁸ It can also use light, which moves faster and radiates further.

I was awakened to energy medicine in 1998, and at the time it was not well accepted. In fact, it has been a process of confronting my shadow to even talk about it. However, healing is stronger when we all work together. Neither mainstream medicine nor less traditional medicine are the one true path. And with a combination of healing modalities, you create a more robust path to healing. People working together can create something stronger and more resilient than one person working alone.

When I am performing an energy healing, I allow my perception to expand. And as I allow this expansion, I begin to see the energy field in my mind’s eye. From there, I look for small disruptions and gaps in the field, and simply by noticing and light suggestions stimulate energy to flow. People may feel this as a shift in lightness, or sometimes as an emotional release. The experience of both the practitioner and the client will depend on skill and the particular modality being utilized.

Different modalities access different perspectives and layers of the energy field. Nutrition and herbs focus on the physical body, but the intention behind them is also part of the experience. This may be how placebo effect works. Reiki focuses on improving the flow of energy blocked by stress, trauma or limiting beliefs. Quantum healing works at the level of the quantum field (also called the zero-point field or energetic matrix) to create broader effects. Each modality contributes its own unique perspective and value to maintaining health.

Every one of us (and everything in the Universe) is made of energy, and as such we are part of a vast connected energetic matrix. Author Lynne McTaggart, in The Field, explores how thoughts and intentions can interact with the energy and potential that connects everything in the universe to create measurable effects in the physical world.¹⁹ As we are all interconnected, the energy of each person, thing, and thought contributes to this matrix.

How energy healing helps with weight release

On a more tangible level, energy medicine contributes to releasing weight in a number of ways:

• Improves stress tolerance: As discussed above, many mind-body and energetic practices show improvement in markers of stress tolerance, helping people feel better which then decreases emotional eating and cravings
• Calms nervous system: Practices reduce emotional reactivity, resulting in a more regulated nervous system to make healthy food choices more sustainable
• Eases emotional pain: Many overeating patterns are coping strategies for unprocessed fear, grief, or shame. Energy healing can help with emotional processing and turn down the emotional charge so food is not the main support system
• Releases limiting beliefs: Clearing old mental beliefs like “I’ll always be overweight” or “I don’t deserve to feel good” help people move past old failures so they can use that information as feedback rather than a self-fulfilling prophecy
• Strengthens inner resources: Improving feelings of self-worth and self-love so lifestyle choices can flow from a place of empowerment and compassion rather than restriction and punishment

Clients working with me report feeling calmer and more stable, grounded, and that they are better able to prioritize both health and in life. They tell me that hunger and cravings decrease noticeably, or that previously irresistible foods are simply no longer desirable.

Overall, energy healing helps ease both physical symptoms and epigenetic influences from stress and belief-related causes of weight and ill health patterns. It’s not a “magic pill” that removes the need for nutrition, movement, and medical care when needed, but it can make those interventions more effective. Reach out if you’re curious to explore this in a session.

References

1. Gerber, R. (2001). Vibrational Medicine: The #1 Handbook of Subtle-Energy Therapies. Bear & Company.
2. van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.
3. Peng H, Zhu Y, Strachan E, et al. Childhood Trauma, DNA Methylation of Stress-Related Genes, and Depression: Findings From Two Monozygotic Twin Studies. Psychosom Med. 2018 Sep;80(7):599-608.
4. Yehuda R, Daskalakis NP, Bierer LM, et al. Holocaust Exposure Induced Intergenerational Effects on FKBP5 Methylation. Biological Psychiatry. 2016; 80(5), 372-380.
5. Lipton, BH. (2005). The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter & Miracles. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
6. McCraty R, Zayas MA. Cardiac coherence, self-regulation, autonomic stability, and psychosocial well-being. Front Psychol. 2014 Sep 29;5:1090.
7. Zadro S, Stapleton P. Does Reiki Benefit Mental Health Symptoms Above Placebo? Front Psychol. 2022 Jul 12;13:897312.
8. Díaz-Rodríguez L, Arroyo-Morales M, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, et al. Immediate effects of reiki on heart rate variability, cortisol levels, and body temperature in health care professionals with burnout. Biol Res Nurs. 2011 Oct;13(4):376-82.
9. Bektas Akpinar N, Ozcan Yüce U, Cansız G, et al. Is Reiki effective in reducing heart rhythm, cortisol levels, and anxiety and improving biochemical parameters in individuals with cardiac disease? Randomized placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2024 Oct 21;23(7):771-779.
10. Ma YM, Yuan MD, Zhong BL. Efficacy and acceptability of music therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2024;15(1):2342739.
11. Chaix R, Fagny M, Cosin-Tomás M, et al. Differential DNA methylation in experienced meditators after an intensive day of mindfulness-based practice: Implications for immune-related pathways. Brain Behav Immun. 2020 Feb;84:36-44.
12. Yang HJ, Koh E, Sung MK, Kang H. Changes Induced by Mind–Body Intervention Including Epigenetic Marks and Its Effects on Diabetes. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22(3), 1317.
13. Kripalani S, Pradhan B, Gilrain KL. The potential positive epigenetic effects of various mind-body therapies (MBTs): a narrative review. J Complement Integr Med. 2021 Jun 22;19(4):827-832.
14. Radziewicz RM, Wright-Esber S, Zupancic J, et al. Safety of Reiki Therapy for Newborns at Risk for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Holist Nurs Pract. 2018 Mar/Apr;32(2):63-70.
15. Bandler R, Grinder J. (1975).The Structure of Magic I: A Book About Language and Therapy. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books.
16. Belal M, Vijayakumar V, Prasad K N, Jois SN. Perception of Subtle Energy “Prana”, and Its Effects During Biofield Practices: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. 2023;12.
17. Jain S, Hammerschlag R, Mills P, et al. Clinical Studies of Biofield Therapies: Summary, Methodological Challenges, and Recommendations. Glob Adv Health Med. 2015 Nov;4(Suppl):58-66.
18. Donna Eden, Energy Medicine: Balancing Your Body’s Energies for Optimal Health, Joy, and Vitality (New York: Penguin Publishing Group, 2008).
19. McTaggart, Lynne. The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe. Updated edition. New York: Harper, 2008.